The Mid-Autumn Festival, on 8 September this year, is celebrated in China, Hong Kong, Singapore, Vietnam, Taiwan and neighbouring countries. The second most important festival after the Spring Festival, the day honours the full moon as a symbol of peace, prosperity and family reunion.

Chinese pastries, called mooncakes, are traditionally eaten, named after the moon goddess Chang'e. A notable part of celebrating the holiday is the carrying of brightly lit lanterns, which line streets or are set on water, giving rise to the nickname "Lantern Festival".

Chinese women take pictures of lit statues replicating China's famous Terracotta Warriors at an exhibtion on 3 September 2014 in BeijingGettyFloral lanterns hang above a street during a media preview of the upcoming mid-autumn festival in SingaporeGettyVisitor walks in front of giant lanterns at the Lantern Wonderland exhibition at Hong Kong's Victoria Park in 2010ReutersA peacock lantern at a park in Hong KongReutersLocal performers display dragon lanterns in preparation for the upcoming mid-autumn festival in SingaporeGettyPeople launch water lanterns during festivities at Gardens By the Bay in SingaporeReutersA boy smiles as he poses for photos in front of a floating lantern display in SingaporeReutersA mother and her daughter look inside a sculpture containing 7,000 recycled plastic water bottles with LED lights in Hong KongReutersVisitors pose for photos with Mid-Autumn Festival decorations at the Gardens by the Bay in SingaporeReutersVisitors walk past moonlight decorations at the Mid-Autumn Festival temple fair at Lugou Bridge, Beijing, in 2007Getty